Tag Archives: Nepal

Sarovar Hotels, The Massif Hotel collaborate to launch Royal Tulip Kathmandu

Sarovar Hotels and The Massif Hotel collaborate to launch Royal Tulip Kathmandu

Sarovar Hotels, in collaboration with The Massif Hotel, has announced the signing of Royal Tulip Kathmandu, poised to be Nepal’s largest hotel and leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. Operated under the Louvre Hotels’ Royal Tulip brand, the property will feature 304 luxury rooms and is strategically located on Ring Road, just 3.5 km from Tribhuvan International Airport.

The highlight of Royal Tulip Kathmandu is its expansive convention center, the largest in the city. With 22,000 sq. ft. of versatile event space, including two grand halls of 11,000 sq. ft. each, the hotel is set to host international conferences, corporate meetings, and high-profile weddings.

Ajay K. Bakaya, Chairman, Sarovar Hotels and Director of Louvre Hotels India, expressed excitement about the venture, highlighting its role in addressing the increasing demand for luxury accommodations and world-class event spaces in Kathmandu. Rajendra Shakya, Chairman of The Massif Hotel, shared that the collaboration aspires to redefine standards in Nepal’s luxury hospitality and event services.

The launch of Royal Tulip Kathmandu aligns with Sarovar Hotels’ ambitious expansion plans for 2025, including the addition of 15 new properties, reinforcing its regional leadership.

Nepal signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh Tourism

 

The Embassy of Nepal, led by Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Surendra Thapa, alongside Taranath Adhikari, Minister, signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Tourism.

Representing Andhra Pradesh were Nukasani Balaji, Chairman of APTDC, and K. Vijay Mohan, President of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Forum and the Tours and Travels Association. This agreement marks the first MoU signed by the Nepal government with any Indian state.

The MoU aims to strengthen tourism ties between Nepal and Andhra Pradesh, with a focus on promoting and developing tourism, fostering cooperation, and sharing resources, expertise, and knowledge.

Vijay Mohan, speaking on the occasion, emphasised the vision of this partnership, highlighting its potential to enhance tourism, facilitate cultural exchanges, and drive mutual growth.

This agreement is a significant step in the relationship between Nepal and Andhra Pradesh, paving the way for collaboration in travel, tourism, and hospitality while leveraging the rich cultural and natural heritage of both regions.

1st ever India-Nepal Tourism meet in Kathmandu to promote Mahakumbh 2025

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu, in association with the Nepal Tourism Board organised the 1st India-Nepal Tourism meet focusing on promotion of Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The event organised with an aim to create B2B connections to foster implementation of circuit tourism between India and Nepal was attended by Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal Arun Kumar Chaudhary as Chief Guest. Deputy Chief of Mission from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu- Prasanna Shrivastava, along with Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board inaugurated the session on Tuesday, a release from Indian Embassy stated.

In his remarks, Prasanna Shrivastava, Charge D’ Affairs, Embassy of India, underscored the developments in physical and digital connectivity that are driving higher tourism flows between India and Nepal. He also stressed on continued joint efforts of both sides to fully leverage the India-Nepal tourism potential, including through promotion of religious and cultural circuits involving places in Nepal and the neighboring states of India.

In his opening remarks, Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board appreciated that India was the biggest source of foreign tourists visiting Nepal and highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Nepal Tourism Board to foster India-Nepal tourism.

Chief Guest Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Arun Kumar Chaudhary in his remarks mentioned that cross border tourism especially through land routes is a big contributor to tourism in Nepal even though not totally captured in formal statistics. He also suggested that both sides need to focus on cross border connectivity particularly in remote areas such as in the Sudurpaschim Province.

Tourism Officer from Government of Uttar Pradesh, Kirti, delivered a presentation on Mahakumbh 2025 that showcased the importance of the event especially for Nepalese devotees.

The event concluded with a mesmerizing Kathak dance performance by an eight-member troupe from India supported by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The B2B event at the Meet was attended by 13 delegates from India and 60 tour operators from Nepal. The discussions focused on promoting cross-border tourism especially through the land route. Tour operators from both sides deliberated on possible travel plans for visitors from both sides including in the context of Ramayana and Buddhist circuits.

As part of the programme, Nepal Tourism Board had organised a familiarisation trip for visiting delegates and tour operators from the state of Uttar Pradesh to Janakpur and Kathmandu from December 8-9. (Source: ANI)

VFS Global to service Algeria visa in India, Nepal & Sri Lanka

VFS Global has been appointed to manage submission and collection for Algeria visa applications in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Commencing on September 1, 2024, VFS Global will begin accepting visa applications for Algeria across categories at its application centers located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kathmandu, and Colombo.

This development is set to significantly simplify the process for applicants in India who, until now, only had the option to submit applications through the Algeria Embassy in Delhi.

Applicants benefit from a variety of submission centres and the convenience of walk-in service to turn in their applications, cover the visa costs, and receive their visa within 6 business days. The visa types available encompass Business Visa, Tourist Visa, Work Visa, Temporary Work Visa, Family Visa, Cultural Visa, and accommodating a wide range of travel purposes.

“It’s both a pleasure and a privilege to earn the confidence and acknowledgment from the Embassy of the People s Democratic Republic of Algeria, with this mandate. Algeria is a promising nation, and we are dedicated to delivering unparalleled customer service by implementing cutting-edge, seamless, secure, and dependable solutions,” stated Yummi Talwar, COO, South Asia, VFS Global.

With this award VFS Global caters to 69 client government globally and 54 in India. Approximately 3,000 India travellers visit Algeria every year.

Lumbini and Stonehenge face conservation challenges

 

Nepal’s Lumbini and the UK’s ancient Stonehenge, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, are under review by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) due to concerns that may impact their values, a senior UNESCO official stated on Monday. The 46th WHC session, hosted in India for the first time, will also address the conservation status of endangered UNESCO heritage sites, including three in Ukraine. This significant event is being held from July 21 to July 31 at Bharat Mandapam.

During a press interaction, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of UNESCO World Heritage, mentioned that the Committee will specifically examine Lumbini and Stonehenge. He suggested that these two sites might be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to ongoing development pressures. Assomo emphasised the need for collaboration with Nepal’s government to address these issues at Lumbini, highlighting the site’s global and sacred significance.

Similarly, ongoing development projects at Stonehenge could affect its values. The aim is to find the best solutions through discussions among committee members. The WHC session will also discuss three endangered sites in Ukraine: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings in Kyiv, the Ensemble of the Historic Centre in Lviv, and the Historic Centre of Odesa, as confirmed by Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO.

The WHC uses satellite monitoring to gather information on threatened sites and provides solutions through advisory bodies that State Parties can implement. When examining a site’s conservation status, there is a debate among committee members to find the best approach for improving conditions. The Committee can offer corrective measures and recommendations to enhance heritage conservation efforts.

The WHC session’s provisional agenda indicates that discussions on endangered heritage properties’ conservation status will continue. The Committee aims to provide actionable solutions and technical advice to improve conditions at these threatened sites, highlighting UNESCO’s commitment to preserving world heritage properties by addressing current threats and ensuring sustainable conservation practices.

Saurya Airlines plane crash claims 18 lives, pilot rescued

 

A private plane crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday morning, resulting in a fire with 19 people on board. According to the Kathmandu Post, 18 bodies have been recovered from the accident site. The pilot, Captain M R Shakya, was rushed to the hospital and is currently receiving treatment.

The plane, owned by Saurya Airlines, was bound for Pokhara when it crashed at around 11 am. The aircraft suffered a runway excursion during takeoff, skidding off the runway’s southern end (Koteshwor side) and flipping, with the wing tip hitting the ground. Thick smoke enveloped the airport following the crash.

Emergency responders have extinguished the fire, and a team is conducting further search and rescue efforts. The identities of the passengers are not immediately known, but Reuters reported that the 17 passengers on board were technicians employed by the airline, heading to Pokhara for maintenance checks. An official stated that the aircraft crashed into a field east of the runway.

This incident follows a previous crash in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed before landing in Pokhara, resulting in 74 fatalities.